Terms starting with I

ICSI

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technique in which a single sperm is selected and injected directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg using a fine glass needle. It is the treatment of choice for male factor infertility, including low sperm count, poor motility, or previous IVF fertilisation failure.

Immunosuppression

Reduced immune function, occurring naturally with disease (HIV, advanced cancer) or as a treatment effect (chemotherapy, post-transplant medication, biologic agents). Immunosuppressed patients have elevated infection risk peri-operatively and require additional antibiotic prophylaxis, slower wound-healing expectations, and lower thresholds for complications such as sepsis. Some elective procedures are deferred or contraindicated during periods of significant immunosuppression.

Immunotherapy

A class of cancer treatments that harness or enhance the patient's own immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells, including checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, and cancer vaccines. It represents one of the most significant advances in oncology in recent decades and is increasingly available at specialist centres internationally.

Implant (Dental)

A titanium or zirconia post surgically inserted into the jawbone to serve as an artificial tooth root, upon which a crown, bridge, or denture can be mounted. Over a period of months, the implant fuses with the surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration, providing a stable and long-lasting foundation for the prosthesis.

Implant Passport

A standardised document or card issued to a patient after the implantation of a medical device, such as a breast implant, hip prosthesis, or cardiac stent, containing details of the device's manufacturer, model, serial number, and implantation date. It ensures that the patient's home clinicians and future treating teams have full traceability of the device, which is essential for safety monitoring and recalls.

Implant Registry

A national or international database that records medical-device implants by patient, lot number, and clinician. Implant registries enable device-recall notification, long-term safety monitoring, and class-action evidence. Examples include the UK Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry and the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.

In medical tourism: Medical tourists should ask whether their implant has been registered with the relevant national registry. Patients whose implants are not registered cannot be notified individually if the device is recalled and may have weaker claims if the device class faces litigation.

Indian Dental Association

The Indian Dental Association (IDA) is the apex body representing dental professionals in India, responsible for maintaining standards of dental education, practice, and ethics across the country. Membership and IDA recognition are markers of professional standing for dentists practising in India who treat international patients.

Infection

The invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi, in body tissues, causing localised or systemic illness. Surgical site infections are a recognised complication of any invasive procedure and are managed with wound care, antibiotics, or, in severe cases, surgical debridement.

Informed Consent

The process by which a clinician provides a patient with comprehensive, understandable information about a proposed treatment or procedure, including its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives, and the patient voluntarily agrees to proceed. Valid informed consent requires that the patient has the mental capacity to decide, is free from coercion, and has been given adequate time to consider the information.

International Patient Department

A dedicated hospital unit or team established to manage the needs of overseas patients, providing services such as appointment coordination, visa support letters, concierge accommodation assistance, medical interpreter provision, and post-discharge communication with the patient's home clinicians. The quality and responsiveness of this department is a significant factor when evaluating overseas hospitals.

ISO 13485

An internationally recognised quality management standard specifically designed for organisations involved in the design, production, installation, and servicing of medical devices. Certification to ISO 13485 demonstrates that a manufacturer or supplier maintains a robust quality management system that consistently meets regulatory and customer requirements for medical device safety.

ISO 15189

An international standard that specifies quality and competence requirements for medical laboratories, covering technical competence of staff, validity and reliability of test procedures, traceability of measurements, and the management of patient data. Accreditation to ISO 15189 by a national accreditation body indicates that a laboratory meets the highest standards for producing accurate diagnostic results.

ISO 9001

The world's most widely adopted quality management system standard, which sets out the criteria for a systematic approach to managing processes and ensuring consistent delivery of products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. ISO 9001 certification in a healthcare context indicates that the facility manages its administrative and support processes to a structured quality framework, though it does not specifically address clinical quality.

ISQUA

The International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) is the global authority for health and social care accreditation, providing an external evaluation programme (ISQua EEA) that accredits accreditation bodies themselves to ensure their standards and processes meet international benchmarks. JCI, ACHS, and similar bodies may hold ISQua accreditation as a mark of their own rigour.

Itemised Quotation

A detailed cost breakdown provided by a hospital or clinic prior to treatment, listing each individual component of the proposed care pathway, such as surgeon's fees, anaesthesia, theatre costs, implants, and post-operative medications. Requesting an itemised quotation is essential for medical tourists to understand exactly what is and is not included in a package price.